Top Cop: Lions Club honors Officer of the Year

Hannah LaClaire

Staff Writer

hlaclaire@nashuatelegraph.com

Courtesy photo
Officer Guido Marchionda, (center) was named Officer of the Year by the Nashua Lions Club, pictured with Lt. Tom Bolton (left) and Lions Club President Kamal Masand.

NASHUA – Officer Guido Marchionda was named this year’s Lions Club Police Officer of the Year for “always being out there, doing his job, going beyond the call of duty,” said Ed Lecius, Nashua Police Department Community Policing Coordinator.

“According to his supervisors, his selection was predicated on many years of exceptional performance,” Lecius said.

Marchionda, a K-9 handler, has worked for the Nashua Police Department since 2006.

Over the years, he and his K-9, Vorik, have responded to many calls, including one in Merrimack where he was able to help rescue a suicidal person who had run off into the woods and get them to safety before they hurt themselves or were exposed to the elements, Lecius said.

In another case, Marchionda was called to investigate someone who allegedly had drugs, but he was able to figure out the person had been set up, and ultimately arrested those responsible.

These incidents are just two of many that Lecius said helped earn him the award.

Aside from working in the Uniform Field Operations Bureau, Marchionda also enjoys taking Vorik to do demonstrations at schools, making kids smile and showing them what he and his partner do every day.

This career path, Lecius said, is also a nod to Marchionda’s father, who was a K-9 officer in Massachusetts.

He was presented the award at the most recent Nashua Lions meeting and was accompanied by his wife, his mother and his aunt.

This is the second year the club has given the award, previously started by the Nashua Exchange Club, which disbanded last year.

However, Lecius said that the Lions felt honoring the officers was “a very worthwhile project” and they are glad to be able to do so.

Hannah LaClaire can be reached at 594-1243 or hlaclaire@nashuatelegraph.com.